The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience operates two licensed, immersive entertainment venues in London and Manchester, running teams through themed adventure zones and a Crystal Dome finale for families, corporate groups, schools, stag/hen parties, and gift buyers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience does
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience operates two immersive, ticketed entertainment venues in the United Kingdom — one on Shaftesbury Avenue in London's West End (since 2018) and one on Lower Byrom Street in Manchester — built around a licensed adaptation of the 1990s Channel 4 television game show. Visitors aged 9 and over form teams of up to eight and proceed through themed adventure zones (Aztec, Medieval, Industrial, and Futuristic, joined by the Ocean Zone added in January 2026) completing roughly 60+ minutes of mental, physical, mystery, and skill challenges to earn crystals that dictate time in the iconic Crystal Dome finale. The operator, Little Lion Entertainment Ltd. (with subsidiary Little Lion Manchester Ltd.), is privately held and is also the producer and operator of supporting packages — VIP tickets, family tickets, stag and hen parties, birthday parties, corporate venue hire, and school group bookings — alongside an on-site bar (Figueroa's Bar in London, Maze Bar in Manchester), souvenir photos, gift vouchers, and merchandise.
Revenue is generated primarily through ticketing, with standard adult tickets priced at £44 (Manchester) to £53 (London) and VIP tiers at £49-£58 including souvenir photos and a gift. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the-crystal-maze.com powered by the Accesso ticketing platform, supplemented by corporate sales teams handling venue hire and a dedicated Guest Services team for school and group enquiries. Channel partnerships with Student Beans, Beans ID, and Blue Light Card provide discount-led demand capture for students, teachers, military, and NHS staff. Promotion runs across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter/X, and LinkedIn, supported by press coverage (Digital Spy, Time Out, Swlondoner), an influencer/Creator programme, and email marketing.
The business operates under a 10-year global rights extension with Banijay (the production group behind the original TV show), which grants exclusive rights to bring live Crystal Maze experiences to international markets and underpins the company's announced expansion to a flagship venue in Dubai. The company self-identifies as the longest continuously running immersive experience in the world, having welcomed over one million guests since opening in 2016 and employs between 251 and 500 staff across its two venues.
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience
- Legal name
- Little Lion Entertainment Ltd.
- Website
- https://the-crystal-maze.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience operates two licensed, immersive entertainment venues in London and Manchester, running teams through themed adventure zones and a Crystal Dome finale for families, corporate groups, schools, stag/hen parties, and gift buyers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Immersive Live Entertainment
- NAICS
- Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Circus, Magic & Variety Shows (THAJAFAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Escape Room Games & Mystery Puzzle Boxes Retail (CRALALAM)
Keywords
Where The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Standard and VIP Ticket Sales: Core revenue from ticket sales for the immersive experience. Standard tickets from £44-£53, VIP tickets from £49-£58 including souvenir photo and exclusive gift. Family tickets available at discounted rates.
- Game On Pass Bundle: Combined ticket bundling The Crystal Maze Experience with Chaos Karts and PAC-MAN LIVE EXPERIENCE for £65, offering approximately 50% savings versus booking separately. 90-day flexible validity.
- Birthday Party Packages: All-inclusive party packages at £65-£85 per person including fully guided maze experience, birthday gift from Mumsie, photo package, and room hire.
- Stag and Hen Packages: Complete party packages from £70-£85 per person including full experience, Maze Master hosting, photo package, special gift from Mumsie, and drinks post-experience.
- Corporate Venue Hire: Private hire of the venue for corporate team building events with tailored packages, catering options, and event space usage. Exclusive use of the maze and facilities.
- Gift Vouchers: Gift vouchers valid for 12 months from purchase date, allowing recipients to book and redeem at their preferred time. No fixed date required.
- Souvenir Photos and Merchandise: Souvenir photos and exclusive gifts available for purchase, particularly with VIP tickets.
- Food and Beverage: On-site bars (Figaro's Bar in London, Maze Bar in Manchester) offering drinks and snacks. Bottle water and soft drinks available from gift shop.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | London Standard Ticket |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | London VIP Ticket |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | London Family Standard |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | London Family VIP |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Manchester Game On Pass |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Manchester Standard Ticket |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Manchester Family Ticket |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Manchester VIP Ticket |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Manchester Family VIP |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Experience for Two - London |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Experience for Two - Manchester |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Stag and Hen Party Package - London |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Stag and Hen Party Package - Manchester |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Birthday Party - London |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Birthday Party - Manchester |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | School Trips - London |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | School Trips - Manchester |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | June Sale Ticket |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Student Discount |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Teacher Discount |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Military Discount |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Blue Light/NHS Discount |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels11 records
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience operates a 60+ minute live, immersive, team-based adventure in which groups of up to eight players aged 9+ navigate through themed zones (Aztec, Medieval, Industrial, Futuristic, and the newly launched Ocean Zone) completing mental, physical, skill, and mystery challenges to earn crystals that determine how much time they spend in the iconic Crystal Dome finale. The core product is sold as timed tickets at physical venues in London and Manchester, with VIP, Family, Birthday, Stag/Hen, Corporate, and School variants layered on top.
Product overview
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience is a live immersive attraction with venues in London's West End (Shaftesbury Avenue) and Manchester (Lower Byrom Street), operated by Little Lion Entertainment. The core offering is a 60+ minute team-based adventure where groups of up to 8 players aged 9+ navigate through themed zones (Industrial, Futuristic, Medieval, Aztec, and the newly added Ocean Zone) completing mental, physical, skill, and mystery challenges to earn crystals and qualify for time in the iconic Crystal Dome finale. The product portfolio includes Standard Tickets, VIP Tickets, and Family Tickets as primary ticket tiers, supplemented by experience packages including Birthday Parties, Stag & Hen Do Packages, Corporate Venue Hire, and School Trips. Additional offerings include Gift Vouchers, The Crystal Maze Experience for Two (couples voucher), and the Game On Pass (Manchester-only bundle with Chaos Karts and PAC-MAN LIVE EXPERIENCE). The company also operates seasonal events including Halloween, Pride, Valentine's, and anniversary celebrations. A first international venue in Dubai was announced for 2025/2026.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Standard Ticket
- VIP Ticket
- Family Ticket
- Family VIP Ticket
- Birthday Party Package
- Stag & Hen Do Package
- Corporate Venue Hire Private hire of the venue for corporate team building, social events, conferences, and away days, including exclusive use of the maze, tailored experiences, catering options, and event space; bookable via the dedicated corporate sales team in London (0203 983 3154) and Manchester (0161 791 0712).
- School Trip Experience Educational group booking for students aged 9+ focused on teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and confidence building; from £25 per student in Manchester and £30 per student in London, with minimum 16 pupils and 1 free teacher per team of 8 students.
- Game On Pass Manchester-only bundle ticket combining The Crystal Maze Experience, Chaos Karts, and PAC-MAN LIVE EXPERIENCE for £65, with 90-day flexible validity; requires booking into the Crystal Maze Experience first.
- Gift Vouchers Open-value gift vouchers for The Crystal Maze Experience redeemable at either the London or Manchester venue, valid for 12 months from purchase.
- The Crystal Maze Experience for Two Voucher package for two people to experience The Crystal Maze with flexible booking and no fixed date, valid for 12 months; priced at £70 per person in London and £55 per person in Manchester.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1 million guests welcomed since opening in 2016
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AccessocoreTicketing partner for The Crystal Maze Experience. All ticket sales are processed through Accesso platform with sales bound by Accesso Terms and Conditions.
- EventimminorTicketing distribution partner listed in privacy policy as third-party data sharing partner.
- TickXminorTicketing distribution partner listed in privacy policy as third-party data sharing partner.
- TripadvisorminorReview platform partner listed in privacy policy as third-party data sharing partner.
- FacebookminorSocial media and marketing partner listed in privacy policy as third-party data sharing partner.
- InstagramminorSocial media and marketing partner listed in privacy policy as third-party data sharing partner.
- Student BeansminorStudent discount partnership offering 30% off tickets for students via Student Beans platform.
- Beans IDminorDiscount partnership via Beans ID platform offering 25% teacher discount and 25% military discount.
- Blue Light CardminorDiscount partnership for NHS and emergency services staff offering 25% discount via Blue Light Card platform.
- London LGBTQ+ Community CentreminorCharity partnership during Pride season. The Crystal Maze supports the community centre through donations and Pride celebrations including cocktail donations at Figaro's Bar.
- Chaos KartsminorManchester attraction bundled with Crystal Maze Experience and PAC-MAN LIVE EXPERIENCE in Game On Pass (90-day flexible ticket validity).
- PAC-MAN LIVE EXPERIENCEminorManchester attraction bundled with Crystal Maze Experience and Chaos Karts in Game On Pass (90-day flexible ticket validity).
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Puttshack: Tech-enabled competitive mini-golf and dining concept with venues in London and other UK/US cities; competes for the corporate team-building and group-celebration occasions that Crystal Maze also monetises at premium price points.
- Junkyard Golf Club: UK competitive-socialising venue combining themed crazy golf with bars and DJs; targets the same group/corporate/stag-hen occasion market with a different activity mechanic, creating direct wallet competition for group leisure bookings.
- Activate: North American-origin gamified indoor experience with physical and digital challenges; serves a similar group/family occasion market and represents the type of scaled, tech-enabled competitor the immersive-experience category is converging toward.
- Flight Club (Lane7): UK/US social darts and bar concept owned by Lane7; competes for the same group-celebration, corporate and stag/hen occasion spend in UK city centres as Crystal Maze's party packages.
Broad incumbents
- The Bear Grylls Adventure: UK-based branded adventure attraction offering physical challenges and immersive experiences under a celebrity/IP brand; targets similar group, family and corporate audiences in the UK ticketed adventure-experience category.
- Warwick Castle (Merlin Entertainments): UK destination attraction combining themed historical environments with live actor-led experiences; comparable as a ticketed themed-attraction venue with strong family, school-trip and tourist customer overlap.
- Madame Tussauds (Merlin Entertainments): Global IP-licensed themed attraction brand operated by Merlin Entertainments; overlaps with Crystal Maze on the model of monetising a recognisable entertainment IP through physical ticketed venues with group, family and tourist audiences.
Direct peers
- Otherworld London: London-based immersive virtual reality and fantasy experience venue offering ticketed multi-room adventures with cocktails and food; competes for the same group/corporate/customer-base as Crystal Maze in the UK immersive-experience category.
- Escape Hunt: UK-origin escape room franchise operating ticketed immersive puzzle/challenge rooms for groups and corporate team building; directly comparable live experience format, group-oriented customer base, and physical-venue operating model to The Crystal Maze.
- Alcotraz London: Immersive bar experience where guests serve drinks through a prison-themed narrative; competes directly for stag/hen, birthday and group-celebration occasions in UK city centres against Crystal Maze's packaged party offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience social profiles
Digital presenceThe Crystal Maze LIVE Experience financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience
What does The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience do?
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience operates a 60+ minute live, immersive, team-based adventure in which groups of up to eight players aged 9+ navigate through themed zones (Aztec, Medieval, Industrial, Futuristic, and the newly launched Ocean Zone) completing mental, physical, skill, and mystery challenges to earn crystals that determine how much time they spend in the iconic Crystal Dome finale. The core product is sold as timed tickets at physical venues in London and Manchester, with VIP, Family, Birthday, Stag/Hen, Corporate, and School variants layered on top.
Is The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience a public or private company?
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience founded?
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience was founded in 2016. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience based?
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience make money?
Eight revenue lines are on record. Standard and VIP Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are game On Pass Bundle, birthday Party Packages, stag and Hen Packages, corporate Venue Hire, gift Vouchers, souvenir Photos and Merchandise and food and Beverage.
Who are The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Puttshack, Junkyard Golf Club, Activate and Flight Club (Lane7). Broad incumbents are The Bear Grylls Adventure, Warwick Castle (Merlin Entertainments) and Madame Tussauds (Merlin Entertainments). Direct peers are Otherworld London, Escape Hunt and Alcotraz London.
Does The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience.
What industry is The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience in?
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience's product category is Immersive Live Entertainment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAFAH, Circus, Magic & Variety Shows, with a secondary code of CRALALAM, Escape Room Games & Mystery Puzzle Boxes Retail. Its NAICS code is 7131 and its SIC code is 7900.